GLAAD - Grand Rapidshttp://www.glaad.org/tags/grand-rapids
en"Gay Christian? YES!" Billboard Appears in Michiganhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/gay-christian-yes-billboard-appears-michigan
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image" height="172" id="23" style="float: right; width: 250px; height: 172px;" width="250" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/god-billboard.jpg?itok=l2o3kMPz" alt="" />Billboards can often serve as convenient ways to get a quick message across. Besides the “stop at this exit to buy this stuff” sort, billboards will sometimes communicate religious messages – far more commonly in some parts of the country than others. Several years ago, drivers around many major US cities viewed billboards that spoke <u>for</u> God, with pithy messages like, “Keep using my name in vain, I’ll make rush hour longer.”</p>
<p>Here at GLAAD, we often get reports of defamation about anti-gay messages on billboards. Most often, these signs are not public billboards, but rather privately owned signs on privately owned land that happen to sit near a busy road. Perhaps they are sponsored by a local congregation, or placed by an individual. Unfortunately, there is little that can be done to remove the message in such situations.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="168" id="23" style="float: left; width: 250px; height: 168px;" width="250" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/10791648-large.jpg?itok=2oHplrCQ" alt="" />However, one pro-LGBT religious group in Grand Rapids, Michigan is using a billboard to send a different message. <a href="http://gaysinfaithtogether.org/">Gays In Faith Together</a> (GIFT) has started a campaign with a local billboard that states simply, “<a href="http://gaychristianyes.org/">Gay Christian? YES!</a>” Their mission, according to the campaign’s website, is to:</p>
<blockquote><p style="margin-left:.25in;">Proclaim the good news that God’s love in Christ extends to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We challenge the Christian community to join the journey to fully embrace gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Just over <a href="http://gaychristianyes.org/churches/24-2">30 churches</a> are a part of the “Gay Christian? Yes!” campaign so far, which make up only a small percentage of the 700+ churches in the Grand Rapids area. The churches come from a variety of denominations, however, some of which have not yet made formal policy changes to become welcoming or accepting denominations. In addition to Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist, and Lutheran (ELCA) churches, a number of Methodist (UMC), Quaker, Reformed, and even Catholic ministries are all participating in the campaign.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/04/churches_launch_pro-gay_christ.html">Mlive.com</a>, the campaign is in response to a perceived lack of acceptance of members of the LGBT community in local churches. The thirty churches wanted to make their acceptance public, and used a billboard to communicate that message. They also hope that more churches in the Grand Rapids area will join them in their public welcome.</p>
<p><img class="media-image" height="201" id="23" style="float: right; width: 250px; height: 201px;" width="250" src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/theresa-mcclellan-040312_20120403171900_320_240.JPG?itok=Xv4Oz-yx" alt="" />GLAAD is aware that when the media shares stories about LGBT people and faith, the dominant frame is often that Christians are in uniform opposition to LGBT people. Increasingly, that is less and less the case. Support for the LGBT community is hardly limited to campaigns like “Gay Christian? YES!” A majority of Catholics and mainline Protestants <a href="http://publicreligion.org/research/2011/05/majority-of-americans-say-they-support-same-sex-marriage-adoption-by-gay-and-lesbian-couples/">support marriage equality and adoption by gay and lesbian couples</a>.</p>
<p>As this story reminds us, there are many pro-LGBT religious people, organizations, and entire denominations in the United States, some of whom identify as LGBT themselves. Many of these voices come from religious sources that are underrepresented in the media when compared to their actual presence in the United States.</p>
<p>GLAAD reminds the media to be fair and accurate in how religious voices are represented, and holds “Gay Christian? YES!” as an example of pro-LGBT Christian voices that needs to be heard in the media.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">April 4, 2012</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/local-and-regional-news">Local and Regional News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/grand-rapids">Grand Rapids</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/gift">GIFT</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/faith">Faith</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/billboards">Billboards</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:20:21 +0000rossmurray49507 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/gay-christian-yes-billboard-appears-michigan#commentsGLAAD Supports Local Activists' Successful Efforts to Prevent Anti-Gay TV Program from Airinghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/02/11/glaad-supports-local-activists-successful-efforts-to-prevent-anti-gay-tv-program-from-airing
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>On Monday morning, we heard concerns from community members about the anti-gay infomercial <em>Speechless: Silencing the Christians</em>, created and distributed by the anti-gay organization the American Family Association. When we found out the program was scheduled to air in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Columbus, Ohio, we reached out to partner organizations on the ground to find out more information and support local efforts.</p>
<!--more--><p>After viewing the infomercial, <a href="../../../../../2009/02/10/american-family-association-buys-airtime-on-local-broadcast-affiliates/">the intent was clear</a> - it was designed to perpetuate a climate of hostility toward our community and to create a culture where we are less safe, less secure, and where our families are put in harm's way.</p>
<p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/speechless_top_feature.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-6393" title="speechless_top_feature" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/speechless_top_feature.png" alt="" width="215" height="153" /></a>Since Monday, we have been working with local community members in Grand Rapids, offering them assistance as they led efforts to mobilize community members to <a href="http://www.wxmi.com/pages/landing/?blockID=208994&amp;feedID=296">express their concerns</a> to the station management at WOOD-TV (NBC), where it was <a href="http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&amp;sc=&amp;sc2=news&amp;sc3=&amp;id=87097">set to air</a>.</p>
<p>The organizing was led by Colette Beighley, who serves as assistant director of the <a href="http://www.gvsu.edu/lgbtrc/">LGBT resource center</a> at Grand Valley State University and a <a href="../../../../../2008/10/02/share-your-story-triangle-foundations-colette-beighley/">GLAAD-trained spokesperson</a>. Colette is also serving as the community's lead spokesperson on the issue, and she continues to work with GLAAD on media monitoring and interview prep this week.</p>
<p>Thanks to the efforts of community members on the ground, WOOD-TV first postponed the airing. The station then said it offered the American Family Association another timeslot. General Manager Diane Kniowski <a title="http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Speechless_offer_rescinded" href="http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/Speechless_offer_rescinded">said:</a> "We made a gesture of the 2-3 p.m. Saturday time period. It's been 24 hours and we had no response. Our station is being bombarded with calls and messages, and we find ourselves in the middle of someone else's fight. Ours was a fair offer and we are removing ourselves from this matter."</p>
<p>WSYX-TV (ABC) in Columbus, Ohio, has also decided to postpone airing the anti-gay informercial after hearing concerns from community members, and will issue a decision later after the general manager has had an opportunity to review. A new air date has not been set.</p>
<p>The anti-gay infomercial aired in Traverse City, Michigan (WPBN - NBC); Toledo, Ohio (WUPW - Fox); and Charlotte, North Carolina (WJZY - The CW) on Saturday, Feb. 7, with very little fanfare, and the information aired with no traction. Yesterday afternoon <a href="http://www.equalitytoledo.org/">Equality Toledo</a> issued an action alert urging community members to engage in dialogue with WUPW about their decision to air this anti-gay programming.<br /></p><div align="left">
</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">February 11, 2009</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/afa">AFA</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/american-family-association">American Family Association</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/anti-gay">anti-gay</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/colette-beighley">Colette Beighley</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/columbus">Columbus</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/grand-rapids">Grand Rapids</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/grand-valley-state-university">Grand Valley State University</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/michigan">Michigan</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/ohio">Ohio</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/tv">TV</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:15:40 +0000SarahK31728 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/02/11/glaad-supports-local-activists-successful-efforts-to-prevent-anti-gay-tv-program-from-airing#comments